Air-supply device for firemen.



J. D. HALLORAN. AIR SUPPLY DEVICE FOB FIREMBN. APPLICATION rILnD JUNE 7, 1911..

1,040,3 1 1 Patented Oct. 8, 1912.

llvllurwf ATTHNEYS JAMES D. HALLORAN, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

AIR-SUPPLY DEVICE FOR FIREMEN.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented oct. 8,1912.

Application lled .Tune 7, 1911. Serial No. 631,732.

men, of which the following is a full, clear,

and exact description.

The object of the invention is to provide a new and improved air supply device for iiremen, arranged to utilize the action of the water passing through the fire hose for drawing in fresh air and delivering the same to one or a number of firemen for breathing purposes, thus enabling the firemen in charge of the fire to readily and successfully combat a fire in the holds of vessels, cellars and other places.

For the purpose mentioned, use is made of an air suction device connected with the fire hose and adapted to draw in fresh air by the suction action of the water passing through the fire hose, land distributing means connected with the said suction device for distributing the drawn in air to the firemen for breathing purposes.

A practical embodiment of the invention is represented in the accompanying drawings forming a part of this specification, in which similar characters of reference indicate corresponding parts in all the views.

Figure l is a perspective view of the air supply device in use; Fig. 2 is an enlarged side elevation of the air supply device, parts being in section; Fig. 3 is an enlarged sectional side elevation of the breathing hood as applied and Fig. 4: is an enlarged sectional side elevation of part of the air supply device.

The fire hose A is provided with the usual regulation nozzle B. on which is removably secured a nipple C forming with the nozzle B an air suction chamber C connected with a pipe D of sucient length to reach to the outside of the building, the outer end of the pipe being provided with a perforated bulb E, to keep the air passing into the pipe D as free from dustI as possible. It is understood that when the fire hose A is in use and the water passes through the nozzle B, then a suction is produced in the nipple C and its chamber C', whereby fresh air is drawn in through the pipe D from the outside. The pipe D is preferably provided with a flexible section D and a rigid section D2, coupled or otherwise connected with a section D", preferably forming part of the nipple C.

Within the rigid section D2 of the pipe D are arranged a plurality of funnels F, extending rearwardly, so that air passing through the pipe D can readily pass into the funnels F. The funnels F extend to the outside of the pipe section D2, and the outer ends of the funnels are coupled or otherwise connected with flexible pipes G, each coupled or otherwise connected at its end with a breathing hood H of hard rubber, metal, or other suitable material. The breathing hood H is provided with an opening H for the passage of the nose of the fireman, and the said hood is also provided with a lip H2 adapted to pass into the liremans mouth so as to support the breathing hood H on the face of the fireman, thus leaving the latters hands and arms free for manipulating the hose A and its nozzle B to direct the water to the fire. The breathing hood H is also provided with perforations H3 for the exhalations of the fireman, and the opening H of the hood is preferably lined with rubber or other soft material H, to fit snugly on the firemans face and thus prevent smoke from passing into the hood H.

When fighting a fire in the hold of a vessel or in a subcellar of a building or the like, usually an oflicer and several firemen have charge of the hose A, and, by the arrangement described, the officer and each fireman is provided with a breathing hood H connected by the pipes G with the funnels F, so that each is supplied with air drawn through the pipe D by the suction action of the water passing through the nozzle B at the nipple C.

From the foregoing it will be seen that a number' of firemen are supplied with fresh air while in dangerous places, and hence can readily combat with the [ire without danger of being smothered by the smoke arising from the fire.

Check valves O are preferably arranged in the couplings I connecting the funnels F with the pipes Gr, (see Fig. 4.) so that a suction is prevented in the funnels F, pipes G and hood H, while the fresh air coming in through the pipe D can readily pass into and through the funnels F and pipes G to the hood H and to the fireman.

Vhile I have shown and described my air supply device as being used in connection with a lire hose delivering water, I wish to have itunderstood that I may also use it with a tube or conduit adapted to deliver tluids in general when the same are to be utilized tor the purpose ot extinguishing fires, so long as the action ot the fluids passing through the hose or conduit suiiices to draw in air through the air supply pipe connected thereto.

Having thus described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent:

1. In an air supply device, the combination with lire hose having a nozzle, an air suction device exterierly connected with the said nozzle at the discharge end thereot tor drawing in air by the passage ot the water through the nozzle, a main air supply pipe connected with the said suction device tor drawing in air through the air supply pipe independent ot the said lire hose, tapping means connected with the said main air supply pipe tor tapping the latter tor air, and distributing means connected with the said tapping means tor distributing the tapped air to the iiremen tor breath ing purposes.

2. In an air supply device, the combinatio-n ot a tire hose having a nozzle, a suction nipple at the said nozzle and torming a suction chamber with the saine, a main air supply pipe connected with the said suction chamber, tunnels in the said main air supply pipe, branch air supply pipes connected with the said tunnels, and breathing hoods connected with the said branch air supply pipes and adapted to be carried by the {iremen to supply the latter with tresh air.

8. An air supply device tor a ire hose, having a nozzle, comprising a suction nipple tor attachment to the nozzle to torni a suction chamber, a main air. supply pipe connected with the said nipple and having a rigid and a flexible section, tunnels extending rearwardly within the rigid section ot the air supply pipe, a branch air pipe connected with each tunnel, and a breathing hood on the end ot each branch air pipe.

4. In combination with a lire hose having a nozzle, a suction nipple tor attachment to the discharge end ot the said nozzle to torm a suction chamber, a main air supply pipe connected with the said nipple and having a rigid and a flexible section, tunnels extending rearwardly within the rigid sect-ion ot the air supply pipe, a branch air pipe connected with each tunnel, and a breathing hood on the end ot each branch air pipe, the said hood having means tor supporting the hood on the iiremans tace and having means tor the escape ot vitiated air.

5. In an air supply device, the combina tion with a tire hose having a nozzle, an air suction device exteriorly on the said nozzle tor drawing in air by 'the passage ot the water through the nozzle, a main air supply pipe connected with the said suction device and independent ot the lire hose, a tunnel extending within the said main air supply pipe tor receiving a portion ot the air drawn in, and distributing means connected with the said tunnel to make a portion ot the air drawn in through the said suction device available tor breathing purposes.

6. In an air supply device, the combination with a iire hose having a nozzle, an air suction device exteriorly connected with the said nozzle and surrounding the terminal thereof tor drawing in air by the passage ot the water through the nozzle, a main air supply pipe connected with the said suction device and independent ot the said lire hose, a plurality ot tunnels within the said main air supply pipe, a plurality ot air-distributing pipes connected with the said tunnels, and breathing hoods on the ends ot the said distributing pipes.k

7. In an air supply device, the combination with alire hose having a nozzle, an air suction device detacha bly connected with the said nozzle and surrounding the same at the torward end tor drawing in air by the passage ot the water through the said nozzle, a main air supply pipe having a flexible section and a rigid section connected with t-he said suction device, a plurality ot tunnels within the said rigid section ot the main air supply pipe connected with the said tunnels, and breathing hoods on the terminals ot the said distributing pipes.

8. In an air supply device, the combination with a lire hose having a nozzle, an air suction device detachably connected with the said nozzle and surrounding the same at the torward end tor drawing in air vby the passage ot the water through the said nozzle, a main air supply pipe having a flexible section and a rigid section connected with the said suction device, a plurality ot air distributing pipes, tunnels at one end ot the air distributing pipes and arranged within the said rigid section ot the main air supply pipe, the mouths ot the tunnels being toward the incoming air, and breathing hoods at the other ends ot the said distributing pipes.

In testimony whereot I have signed my name to this specification in the presence ot two subscribing witnesses.

JAMES D. HALLORAN.

Witnesses Trino. G. HosTER, JOHN P. DAVIS.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for ve centsV each, by addressngithe f Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, D. C. i 

